Improvement in steam and air valves



THOMAS H. DODGE.

Steam and, Air Valves..

Patented han. 2, 1872.

No.122Q446.

"LlcTLEE-E E E UNrTED Sa E THOMAS H. DODGE, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

i IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM AND AIR VALVES.

Specification forming partof Letters Patent No. 122,446, dated `January 2, 1872.

. To all 'whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, THoMAs H. DODGE, of

i the city and county Aof Worcester and Common- Ving to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawin g which forms a part of this specitication, andin which- Figure l represents a side view of my improved steam and air valve. Fig. 2 represents a front view' of the same. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal central section on line A B, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 represents a transverse section on line C D, Fig. l. A

The nature of my invention consists in certain improvements in steam andfair-valves, as will be hereafter explained.

The use of steaml for heating buildings Vby meansA of radiators arranged in rooms is becoming quite general, especially in the larger towns and cities, and it is customary to furnish each radiator with asmall valve or cock, whereby the steam can be tested, and by means of which any air confined within the radiators can be alloWed to escape when the steam is turned on. I'havefound by experience and by general complaint that the valves in ordinary use are defective and their operation unsatisfactory, in-

asmuch as they are liable to be left open by persons when there is no steam in the radiators, and should steam then belet on while the valves are thus open the condensed steam and water escapes through the open valve, thereby occasioning more or less injury to iioors, carpets, furniture, and other articles within the rooms.

The object of my present invention is to produce avalve for use upon steam-radiators which shall be more efficient and satisfactory in its operation,.and which can, at the same time, be constructed cheaply, while it is convenient and durable. l

It consists of a shell or body, marked A in the drawing, provided with a screw-stem, B, for securing it to the radiator, and with a suitable escapenozzle, G. A flange, l), is formed upon the neck A, While a suitable screw-thread Vis formed on the interior of the body to receive the thread of the spindle E. A hollow rosette,

E', is formed upon the outer end of the spindle E, and within said rosette is arranged a volute spring, F, one end of which is secured. to the neck A of the body A, and the other end to the rim of the rosette E, in this instance by hooking its end into a recess, a, formed in the inner surface of the rim. The -iiange D serves to keep the spring F in place and protects it from injury. secured tothe neck Al is, in this instance, attached bypassing it through a slot cut in a lug, c, at one side of the neck for its reception, the extremity of the spring being turned up at an angle to prevent it from drawing out of the y slot, as shown in Fig. 4. It will be understood that the ends of the spring may be attached to the neck and rosette-rim in any other manner, whereby a secure a-ttachm ent is effected, as best suits the convenience of the manufacturer. The spring F, being arranged-upon the outside of the valve-neck, is not liable to become injured by the steam and water which escapes when the valve is opened. If desired, a suitable stop device can be combined with the iiange l) to prevent the rosette E from being turned back I beyond acertain distance, andthe spring thereby unduly strained by careless or incompetent persons. v

In putting the valve together the spring is first secured in place on the neck A and sufficiently coiled to be 4received within the rosette E'. The spindle E isthen screwed in until its end strikes the valve-seat, aftervwhich a suitable tool is inserted through the space b between the iiange D and rosette-rim into the hooked end ofthe spring, which latter is then drawn around until. the desired tension is obtained, when the end of the spring is hooked into one of the recesses a on the rosette-rim, whereby the force of said spring is caused to act upon the-spindle E through the rosette or head E thus keeping the valve always closed, except when opened by power applied to th rosette E. When taking the valve apart it will be understood that the spring is iirst unhooked from the rosette and the operation reversed. By making the spindle E with a triple thread, a quarter revolution of the spindle will `open the valve sufficiently for all practical purposes when y in use, and the valve will instantly be closed by The end of the spring which. is

the spring upon removing the counteracting power from the rosette.

I have tried this valve upon steam-radiators in my own building, and find it to be of great utility and value.

I am aware that volute springs have before been used to'reuder valves and cooks self-closing, and this, therefore, I do not, broadly, claim.

But by the arrangement of the tlange or shield' D with respect to the chambered rosette E so that it shall be Within the compass of the sides of the latter, leaving also a space, b, as above speoied,all dust and dirt are effectuallyexolud ed from the interior of the chamber in which the spring is contained and, at the saine time, the tension of the spring may be adjusted by inserting a suitable instrument up through the space b, so as to engage with the hook onl the outer end of the volute spring, and, by carrying it around to engage With the one or the other of the notches cc on-the inside oi' the rosette,

forth.

THOS. H. DODGE.

Witnesses:

Crais. H. BURLEIGH, A. E. PEXRGE. (148) 

